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Vol 8, No 166

June 15, 1969

Sunday Evening

Countryfied TV Comedy, Hee-Haw, Premiers

Today in Sports
J J Clark hits 8 home runs in 8 at bats
ENNIS  (1902)   On this date in 1902, the Corsicana Oil Citys beat the Texarkana Casketmakers by the score of 51-3, in a Texas League game that still stands in the record books. It wasn't the score but the performance of Oil Citys catcher that made history that day. Corsicana blue laws prevented playing baseball on Sunday, so the previously scheduled game was moved to Ennis a few miles away.
   In the game, catcher JJ Clark hit 8 home runs for 8 at bats, thanks to an outfield fence in Ennis that was only 210 feet. Nonetheless, the 8 homeruns still stand as a Texas League game record. Clark went on to play with the Cleveland Naps in the Major Leagues, but in his 15 year career, he would only hit a total of 6 home runs.
   In 1908 Clark made history again, as the catcher for Cleveland pitcher Addie Joss who on October 2, 1908 pitched only the forth perfect game in Major League history, 27 up and 27 down.   

Spurs beat New York for their second NBA Title
NEW YORK NY  (2003)   On this date in 2003, The San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Nets in Game 6 of the NBA Championship to win their second NBA Title in franchise history.   

Born This Date
Waylon Arnold Jennings born in Littlefield
LUBBOCK   (1937)   On this date in 1937, Waylon Jennings was born in Littlefield. For a time, he was the bass player in Buddy Holly's "Crickets". Following Buddy's death in 1959, Waylon went country. Joining with Willie Nelson, he recorded such crossover smash hits as "Good Hearted Woman", "Luckenbach Texas" and "Mama, Don't Let You Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys". He died in Febuary 2002.   

Hee-Haw premiers
NASHVILLE TN (1969)  With Kornfield Kounty as the backdrop, the hit television comedy Hee-Haw premiered on this date in 1969. The Network cancelled the show in 1971, along with other "regional" favorites like the Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres, but the show found new life in syndication. The show was held together by Countryfied skits like "PHFFT! You Were Gone!", Pickin' and Grinnin' (with Buck Owens and Roy Clark), The Gossip Girls, "Hee Haw Salutes...", "Hey Grandpa! What's for supper?", "The Cornfield" and much more. Hee Haw made being Country fun again.

Aviation Desk
Bessie Coleman certified to Fly in France
PARIS, FRANCE  (1921)   On this date in 1921, Bessie Coleman received her pilot's license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Paris.
   Determined at an early age to become a pilot, the Atlanta, Texas native moved to Chicago, then to Canada, and eventually to Paris to find a school that would give flight instructions to a black woman.
   On this date in 1921, Bessie Coleman became the world's first licensed black female aviator, and the world's first licensed black aviator.
   Bessie Coleman returned to the United States and joined the barnstorming circuit. She died just five years later, in 1926, when her co-pilot lost control of her plane and she was tossed from the open cockpit, plunging to her death.